I'm converted

[TwinMfg]

I accidentally stumbled across MTW- and man, am I glad that I did (unlike my wife). I was searching for a manageable realtime combat game and found the RTW demo. Oh, how cool, I thought. Then: Bummer, my PC can't handle it. Guess I'll have to settle for MTW. Well, after reading some the posts here, I was thankful for an old PC. Now, how many times does THAT happen?

The guides are good. Perhaps a little too good, so I would caution you to not use them until you absolutely need to. Frog's unit guide is good to read for understanding unit strengths/weaknesses, etc. A must read while your game is being shipped to you.

But don't make the mistake of reading the faction guides while waiting like I did. The best fun is selecting a faction and learning its strengths/weaknesses the hard way. Reading the faction guides ruins that fun; therefore I was forced to install a mod earlier than I should have so I could have a greater challenge. In short, don't read the faction guides unless you're really stuck.

[kiwitt]

I love MTW so much I have two original VI expansion disks, so If one ever gets too damaged in play, I can always use the other. Only the original MTW is for loading the game. I echo the others. MedMod, XL and other mods, extend the game so well.

We don't need an upgrade to MTW, just another mod. Long may it live.

[TonkaToys]

I accidentally stumbled across MTW- and man, am I glad that I did (unlike my wife).

Do you mean you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but your wife is not so happy about it...
Or you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but not glad you stumbled across your wife?


MTW is fantastic.

[Roark]

Most wives hate MTW...

I'm on an involuntary program... 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off...

[TwinMfg]

Do you mean you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but your wife is not so happy about it...
Or you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but not glad you stumbled across your wife?


MTW is fantastic.

Oh, please, oh please, don't let my wife see this! I'd be sleepin' with the dogs for a year. In case you do see it, allow me to clarify, my lil' cactus flower: I MEANT OPTION #1!!!!

[Roark]

Psst... Dude... Do you think she bought it?

[Azi Tohak]

Man...now I need to get back playing it. But my RPGs do take lots of time...

Azi

[DensterNY]

I accidentally stumbled across MTW- and man, am I glad that I did (unlike my wife)...

The guides are good. Perhaps a little too good, so I would caution you to not use them until you absolutely need to... Frog's unit guide is good to read for understanding unit strengths/weaknesses, etc. A must read while your game is being shipped to you.

But don't make the mistake of reading the faction guides while waiting like I did. The best fun is selecting a faction and learning its strengths/weaknesses the hard way. Reading the faction guides ruins that fun; therefore I was forced to install a mod earlier than I should have so I could have a greater challenge. In short, don't read the faction guides unless you're really stuck.

Two comments... First, I know what you mean about MTW and how your significant other can't understand the attraction and joy of the game. Where else can a man feel the joy of conquest and empire building? In his cubicle or corner office? hehe...

Second, I understand where you're coming from with your suggestion not to read the guides because they are very, very good... I remember playing my first game straight out of the box and getting slaughtered and making all sorts of poor investment and strategic choices... it was kinda fun stumbling around like a bumbling idiot trying to figure things out but that got old kinda fast.

Once I read Frogbeastegg's guide there was no stopping me... and I look at it this way... Think about a king or up and coming prince and the training and schooling involved in making them a worthy monarch. They are schooled in warface, the intrigue of politics and the economics of the nation and anything else that may be needed to rule.

[Roark]

I've only just started playing on Hard, unmodded, in Medieval period, and I still have a really tough time with the economics of Viking Era. I think it'll be a long time before I have to learn how to mod...

[Pericles]

Yup, MTW:VI is the best!

In my current game (as Turks, very hard, early, GA), I gave all other factions 500,000 florins, and now, in the year, 1335, I have the super powers Mongols, Byz, and Egyptians on all sides of me (I'm currently in 4th place in GA points).

I've had some truly spectacular battles: the Byzs and I have fought over Nicea numerous times with some massive, bloody battles. The Byzs have 7-8 command-level leaders, and massive troop levels, while I have had to continually hire mercenaries and launch Jihads, in order to keep attacking them.

Like two punch-drunk boxers we fought over Nicea almost non-stop for years... I was determined to kick them out and retain that province.

Finally, the Golden Horde started to advance south towards the Byzs and they finally called off their attacks to deal with the Horde.

I was exhausted... but it was bloody great fun...

And I would also suggest for people not to read the guides (unless you are really stuck). Learning the game, losing, and trying new strategies, is what this game is all about...

Cheers!

[yesdachi]

In my current game (as Turks, very hard, early, GA), I gave all other factions 500,000 florins, and now, in the year, 1335, I have the super powers Mongols, Byz, and Egyptians on all sides of me (I'm currently in 4th place in GA points).

that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king

[EatYerGreens]

that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king

Does that mean that ransoms are not absolute amounts but dependent on how much the faction has in the bank at the time? Interesting....

Incidentally, I was looking at my last battle logfile today. I was initially puzzled to see figures for "Initial cost of unit", whereby the general's Katank unit was listed as initial cost of 3568, or some such, whilst previously unbattled units showed exactly their proper purchase price.

I eventually twigged that valour accrued by individuals within units from previous battles plus things like armour upgrades caused their Intial cost to be similarly uprated. I guess this is handy knowledge for when I eventually attempt multiplayer (*) but, for now, I'm wondering if it's factored into the ransom value of the units you capture?

* - I need to practice with the purchasing screen for a while so as not to waste the time of other players, who all likely know what they're doing, what to buy, how to upgrade it and so on...would custom battle mode be the best place to practice that?

[Martok]

that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king

Yeah, you can get some pretty insane ransoms from kings, princes, and jedi generals. I've been paid as much as 30,000 florins for a single guy before (although most factions can rarely afford such an amount).

Of course, on the flip side, I've had to pay a pretty hefty sum for some of my boys who get captured. One game I where I was playing as the Spanish, I had conquered the Iberian peninsula and the Almohad Caliphate, and had set my sights on establishing an empire around the Mediterranean. Doing this meant destroying the Sicilians (which I was more than happy to do since they're backstabbing bastards anyway ). Leading the invasion was my mediocre crown prince (4 loyalty, 6 piety, 3 dread, 2 stars, and 5 acumen). I had hopes that this war with the Sicilians would either kill him, or make a man out of him. Although I couldn't have known at the time, this turned out to be a grave error on my part.

I took out the Sicilians quickly enough, but then things started to go wrong. First of all, I was excommunicated. This wouldn't have been so bad, however, except for one thing: My 8-influence, 7-star uber-king unexpectedly died (he was only 49) right as my crown prince--who had actually been improving--was leading an attack on the Pope (so as to cancel my excommunication).

Then the worst happened: My crown prince, who was now suddenly the king (although he didn't know it yet), was captured in battle with the Papal armies. Since I had no direct heirs of age yet (only royal uncles and little brothers that were too young), letting him be executed would've plunged my empire into civil war. And I wanted to keep him in any case--he now had 9 influence, 8 piety, 6 dread, 4 stars, and 7 acumen (he picked up the trait that gives +2 to both piety and acumen).

The ransom demanded for him? 55,000 florins. I paid it, but doing so ate up over half my cash reserves.....

[yesdachi]

The ransom demanded for him? 55,000 florins. I paid it, but doing so ate up over half my cash reserves.....

That is a pretty huge ransom and it was all because of the Sicilians. I have never had a lasting alliance with them and when ever I reach them in the water they almost always start a fight . The rats won’t even roll over in 2 years to save you an excom .

[Pericles]

that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king

I'll say that's for sure...

But they are tough to beat on the battlefield.

Those 8 and 9 star generals are worth getting back. One Byz general had only one infantry and 4 Kat units and whupped my butt, even though I had triple the forces available...

[VikingHorde]

It's funny how much fun MTW is compaired with RTW. I tryed a few mounths to give RTW another go, but MTW is just more fun. I don't think im going to play RTW untill BI comes out in the shops, so untill then its MTW time. Im currently playing as the Byz (my fav.)/high XL and it's great fun to rebuild the Byzantine Empire.